(UPDATE: SUMMER 2025) It’s the Centre Back position that everybody in the modern game is raving about… It’s the position that every young Centre Back in youth squads all over the world want to develop into… It’s potentially the role that might lead to the sad death of the ‘Stopper’ (Update: Ain’t NO CHANCE we’re letting that happen! 😤)… In today’s blog, we’re diving into what is considered the “Rolls Royce” position of D(C)’s: The ‘Ball Playing Defender’.
‘Ball Playing Defenders’ are a joy to watch. Their ability to spray the ball all over the gaf from those deep positions make them a real treat to behold. Some are now capable of dribbling past opponents as they dissect the opposition’s defensive shape due to their ability with the ball at their feet.
This type of player is not your average Centre Back who usually gets time and space on the ball as ‘B.P.D’s’ have the ability to hurt the opposition if that situation ever occurs, so much so that opposition Managers tend to create plans to nullify a ‘B.P.D’s impact against them even before a ball has been kicked. And with the way in which modern football is being played today, we can expect ‘Ball Playing Defenders’ to be around for a very long time.
ATTACKING PHASE
A ‘Ball Playing Defender’ is absolutely crucial in build up play. They normally get unto the ball and spray it around in an attempt to locate teammates in dangerous positions higher up the pitch. They also now have the ability of driving into space (progressive carries) whenever the situation allows them to. Some ‘B.P.D’s’ are also press resistant in that they have the ability to use body feints and Cruyff turns to get away from opposition pressure. They’re an absolute staple in your team if you enjoy keeping possession of the ball.
DEFENSIVE PHASE
There’s a myth going around that most ‘Ball Playing Defenders’ of today’s era cannot defend. This is simply not the case, as they have now been asked by their manager to be more involved in their team’s Attacking Phase. Because ‘Ball Playing Defenders’ are on the ball more frequently, any defensive mistake they make gets highlighted on a larger scale. Take John Stones, for example. A proper ‘Ball Playing Defender’ who is a beast on the ball and good enough defensively, but he falls prey to being a victim of his own success because whenever Stonesy makes an error it reaches national headlines. So, the basic point I’m trying to get at is that ‘Ball Playing Defenders’ can indeed defend almost as good as ‘Stoppers’, but similarly to a ‘Wingback’, they’re more focused on what they can do with the ball at their feet.
POSITIONAL TRAITS
Most ‘B.P.D’s’ are so elegant in possession that they can also opperate in the DM(C) position, but generally speaking, they primarily play as a D(C). A quick note on the use of arrows: Centre Back is the only position in Soccermanager that does not get affected when you decide to point their arrows to attacking or defending, except for ‘Ball Playing Defenders’. Because of their effectiveness on the ball, you can point their arrows to ‘attacking’ which will indicate that you want them to be more aggressive when it comes to getting involved with your team’s play. On some occassions, you can even use your ‘B.P.D’ as your playmaker, but this can only be done by the best of the best in today’s game. (UPDATE: Since SMW has removed the arrows from gameplay, the best way to ensure that you command your D(C) to get higher up the pitch will be via placing him as your ‘Ball Playing Defender’ whilst giving his defensive teammates more conservative instructions . This is explained further within the second image below).
KEY ATTRIBUTES (From SM25 and beyond)
Marking
Positioning
Dribbling
Control
Long Passing
Passing
Creativity
Aerial Ability
Strength
Aggression
Composure
Concentration
Leadership
BEST PLAYERS OF ROLE IN SOCCERMANAGER WORLDS
(UPDATE) This is a list that you don’t want to muck around with! Had to create a shortlist of 30 ‘B.P.D’s before narrowing it down to the top 15. REMEMEBER that it’s the 15 best players who can operate within the ‘Ball Playing Defender’ role, not the 15 best based on current form in real life footy
Virgil Van Dijk 🇳🇱
Corrěa Marquinhos 🇧🇷
David Alaba 🇦🇹
John Stones 🏴
William Saliba 🇫🇷
Alessandro Bastoni 🇮🇹
Thiago Silva 🇧🇷
Pau Cubarsí 🇪🇸
Joško Gvardiol 🇭🇷
Dayot Upamecano 🇫🇷
Nico Schlotterbeck 🇩🇪
Jonathan Tah 🇩🇪
Lisandro Martínez 🇦🇷
Aymeric Laporte 🇪🇸
Jules Koundé 🇫🇷
What a way to end our look at the defensive roles found within Soccermanager! I gotta tell you, the more I write about these different roles the more excited I’m getting, Soccermanagerites. Coming up next, we’re heading into the engine room as we take a look at every role found within Central Midfield. Let the good times roll on! 🤙💚
The Soccermanager Experience 